Class 3A state baseball: Mounds View 4, Elk River 0

Mounds View senior pitcher Sam Hentges made the final start of his high school baseball career Thursday afternoon. He shoved aside all sentimentality.

"It was a big thing for me personally, but doing what was necessary to get the team a win was a much bigger deal," the 6-foot-6, 245-pound left-hander said.

The No. 4-seeded Mustangs took the first step toward a successful Class 3A title defense with a 4-0 victory over No. 5 Elk River in the quarterfinals of the baseball state tournament at Midway Stadium. As he has all season, Hentges dominated from the mound.

Hentges, the Pioneer Press player of the year and a fourth-round draft pick last week by the Cleveland Indians, threw a two-hitter and struck out 11 to send Mounds View (19-6) into Friday's big-school semifinal game against top-seeded Lakeville North (22-4).

Mounds View pitcher Sam Hentges pumps his fist after the final out of the Mustangs' 4-0 state quarterfinal win over Elk River at Midway Stadium in St. Paul on Thursday. Hentges gave up two hits and struck out 11 in his complete-game shutout over the Elks. (Pioneer Press: Ben Garvin)

He had eight strikeouts through three innings and took a no-hitter into the fifth before giving up a two-run single to Riley Givens.

"We came into this with the mind-set that we're going to win the whole thing again," Hentges said. "To get to Game 3 (Saturday's championship game at Target Field), you have to start with Game 1."

After a 2-5 start this season, Mounds View has won 17 of its past 18 games.

"We're winning now, and we know what it takes to keep that going," first baseman Charlie Callahan said. "This team wants to finish strong. We plan to keep fighting through even though everyone wants to knock us off."

Hentges was 1 for 3 with a towering RBI double to the wall in right-center field in a two-run fourth inning.

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Tucker Gran and Alec Abercrombie were both 2 for 3.

Kellen Rholl, who had the victory in the Mustangs' section final victory over Champlin Park last week, will pitch against Lakeville North. Henry DeCaster will start on Saturday, whether it's in the championship or third-place game.

"We have darn good pitchers," Mounds View coach Mark Downey said. "We've got quality guys who are really fired up to throw well for us."

Hentges improved his record to 7-0, lowered his earned-run average to 0.65 and has struck out 77 in 43 innings. He will play first base the next two games.

"We have three pitchers who are aces on other teams," Hentges said.

Givens and Jordan Hollum had the only two hits for Elk River (17-9). Teammates Ben Johnson and Brandon Meyer reached base on walks.